Anatolia Vertadella, a 101-year-old Italian woman, has given birth to a 9-pound baby.

An ovary transplant made this parturition possible.

This occurrence was widely criticized by medical professionals because of her advanced age.

The whole procedure was illegal, but a private clinic in Turkey made it possible, reports the Rivista Napoli.

“I am very grateful to all the team of doctors who decided to go on with the operation,” she admitted in tears. “I am so grateful to have given birth to my 17th child.

This is a true blessing and a testament to the power of the creator,” Anatolia Vertadella told Rivista Napoli.

“For so long I have felt useless to God, I could not procreate since I turned 48 years old when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. For a long time I believed God was punishing me for only bearing 16 children, but in his godly generosity, he has granted me with fertility once again,” acknowledges the century-old fervent Catholic.

After all the whole procedure is controversial and as Dr. Popolicchi believes the final decision was left to the patient.